Synthesis of steroids



U qi States P e SYNTHESIS or STEROIDS Josef Fried, New Brunswick, N. J., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Virginia Ne Drawing. Application March 25, 1951- serial No. 647,949

13 Claims. 01. 260-39145 This invention relates to the synthesis of valuable steroids;- and it has for its objects the provision-of (I) an advantageous process of preparing steroids of the pregnenej (including the pregnadiene) series, having a 9a-halo group and a cyano or thiocyano radical in the 2'1'- posit-ion;-and- (II) the new physiologically active steroids formed thereby.

The process of this invention essentially comprises interacting a 21-(organic sulfonic acid ester) of a 9u-halo- 2'1-hydroXy-steroid of the p'regnene (including the pregnadiene) series with either a cyanide or thiocyanate and recovering the 21-cyano orthiocyano steroid formed thereby.

The preferred compounds obtainable by the process of this invention are those whichare comprehended by the general formula i wherein the 1,2 and 6,7 positions are saturated or doublebonded, and wherein R is hydrogen R is B-hydroxy or together R and R is keto, X is halogen (preferably fiuoro or chloro), Y is cyano or thiocyano, and Z is hydrogen or a-hydroX-y.

Representative steroids obtainable by the process of this invention include: 9u-halo'-21-cyano-l1fi,17a-dihydroxyprogesterones (e. g. 9cx-flL1QI'O-21-CY3nO-l113,17a-dlhydroxyprogesterone) 9a-halo-21-cyano-1 lfl-hydroxyprogesterones; 9a-halo-21-cyano-A -pregnadiene-l 15-170:- diol-3 ,ZO-diones, 9a-halo-2 1 -cyano-A '-pregnadiene-l 13- ol-3,20-diones; 9et-halo-2l-cyano-A pregnadiene 115, 1i7a-diol-3,20-diones; 9a-halo-21-cyano A -pregnadiene- 1 1;3-o1-3,20-diones; 9a-halo-21-cyano-11 keto, 17a hydroxy-progesterones (e. g. 9a-fiuoro-2l-cyano-M-preg: nene-17a-ol-3,11,20-trione); 9a-halo-21-cyano 11 ketoprogesterones; 9a-halo-21-cyano-A -pregnadiene-17a-ol- 3,11,; 20 triones; 9a halo 2 1 cyano A pregnadiene-3,11,20-triones; 9a-halo-2l-cyano-A -pregnadiene ol-3,1 1,2O=triones; 9a-halo=21 cyano A pregnadiene- 3,1 LZO-triones; 9e-halo-21-thiocyano-l118,17wdihydroxy progesterones (e. g. 9a-fiuoro-21-thiocyano-11fl,17u-dihydroxyprogesterone); 9a-halo-2l thioeyano 1113- hydroxyprogesterones; 9u-halo-2l-thiocyano A -pregnadiene-l-lthl7a-diol-3,2G-diones; 9a-l1alo-21-thiocyano A pregnadiene-l1p-o1-3,20=dione; 9a halo 21 thiocyano- A -pregnadiene-1 1B,17u-diol-3,20-diones; 9a halo 21- thiocyano-A -pregnadiene-1 1 6-016 ,20 dione; 9a halo- 2 ;l-thiocyano-1l-keto-17o -hydroxy-progesterones (e. g; 90: fiuoro 21 thiocyano A pregnene 170:;- ol- 3,11,2O trione); 9a halo 21 thiocyano 11 ketoprogesterones; 9a .ha1o- 2-1- --.th iocy;ano A pregnadiene 17 ol 3,11,20 triones; 90c halo 21 thiocyano- 2 A pregnadiene 3,11,20 triones; 9a halo 21 thiocyano-A -pregnadiene-17a-ol-3,11,20-triones; and 9ahalo-21-thiocyano-A pregnadiene-3,ll,20 trionesa To prepare these compounds, at steroid of the following generalformula is employed as the steroid reactant-3 onrosorni wherein the 1,2 and 6,7 positions are saturated or doublebonded, R, R, X, Y and Z are as he re'iilbe'fore' defi'ii'ed', and R" is alkyl or afyl referably-lower alkyl, such as methyl, or monocyclio hydrocarbon 'aryl, s'uchqas tolyl). Representative steroids suitable as initial reac-tantsin the process of this invention andtheif method of preparation are disclosed in the U; S;- application-of Josef E. Herz and Josef Fried, Serial No. '5'16,333, file'd June 17, 1-955.

To prepare the steroids or this inventiomwhese 21"- organi'c s'ulfonic' acid esters re" treated with either a cyanide or a thiocyanate. The preferred reactants are inorganic cyanides" and thiocyan'ates such as the alkali metal, cyanides (e. g. potassium cyanide) and the alkali metal thiocyanates"(e. g. potassiur'n' thicscyanate); The reaction is preferably conducted in an inert organic-solvent at an elevated temperature (-e'. g. the'r'eflur tenfperature of the resultant mixture). lniorder to assure maximum yield, at least one mole of cyanide or thiocyanate should be present per mole of steroid.

The steroids of this" invention are physiologically active thetreatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The dosage for such administration is, or course, dependent on the relative activity of the compound. The following-examples are illustrative of the invention (all temperatures being in-centigrade):

EXAMPLE 1 To a solution of 125 mg of 9a-fluo'rohydrocortisone ZI-me'syIate' in'20 ml. of methanol is added a solution of 50 mg. of potassium cyanide in l} inl. of water afnd' the mixture refluxed for 10 minutes. After most of the methanol is removed in vacuo, water is added and the resultant crystals filtered and washed with 'water. -The dried cyano compound after recrystallization from percent alcohol has the following properties-:"M. P. about 291493; [a] +139 (c. 039' in 95% alcohol); r -237 m, (e=1-5,600); 2.90,12.97, 4:46, 6.15,u. i

Analysis-Calm. for 0 1-1 0 1 (389142): 0, 67.85; H, 7.24; N, 3.59. Found: 'C, 68.04; H, 7.09'; N, -3.4 h

Similarly, if 9a-chlorohydrocortisone mesylate is substituted for the 9u-fiuorohydrocortisone mesylate in the procedure of Example 1, 9aacliloro-21-cyano-A -preg- By substituting 9a-fl11010- 1-dehydrohydrocortisone: 21-

mesylate for the 9a fldorohydrocortisone 2*1'-ni'esylate in the procedure of Example 1, there is obtained in good.

By substituing 9u-fluoro-6-dehydrohydrocortisone 21- mesylate for the 9a-fluorohydrocortisone 21-mesylate in theprocedure'of Example 1, there is obtained ingood yield 90: fluoro 2l-cyano-A -pregnadiene-11fl,17a-diol diol-3,20-dione.

To a solution of 50 mg. of 9a-fiuoro-2l-cyano-M-pregnene-l1,17a-diol-3,20-dione in ml. of acetone is added with stirring 0.1 ml. of a solution of 200 mg. of chromic acid and 320 mg. of sulfuric acid in '1 ml. water. After 30 minutes, a few drops of alcohol were added to destroy .excesschromic, acid and the mixture diluted with water,

9u-fluoro-2l-cyano-M-pregnene-17a-ol- 3,11,20 trione can also be. prepared by substituting 9a-fiuorocortisone ZI-mesylatei for 9afluorohydrocortisone 21-mesylate in the procedure of Example 1. V ;,;In' a similar manner, 9a-fiuoro-2l-cyano-A -pregnadiene-l1/3,17a-diol-3,20-dione and 9a-fluoro-21-cyano A -pregnadiene-l1 8,l7a-diol-3,20 dione can be converted by the process of Example 4 to 9a-fluoro-2l-cyano- A it-preg'nadiene-17a-ol-3,11,20trione and 9a-fluoro-2lcyano-A -pregnadiene-17a-ol-3,1 1,20-trione, respectively.

' EXAMPLE 5 V 115,170z-di01-320-di0fl6 "A solution of 100 mg. of 9a-fluorohydrocortisone 21- mesylate and 50 mg. of anhydrous'potassium thiocyanate in 8-inl. of acetone is refluxed for 3.5 hours. Water is then added and the acetone removed in vacuo. The resulting crystals are removed by filtration, washed with water; dried and recrystallized from 95% alcohol. The pure 21-thiocyanate has the following properties: M. P. about 230-232"; [111 +l23 (c. 0.30 in 95% alcohol); i 237 m (e=18,700); A 2.85-2.90, 2.98, 4163, 5.85, 6.10

. AnGlysis.-Calcd. for C H O FSN (421.44): C, 62.69; H, 6.69; S,. 7.59; N, 3.32. Found: C, 62.83; H,

6.65;:S,..'Z.45; N,3.03. r In 1 a similar manner," 9a-chlorohydrocortisone 21- rnesylate,f 9m-fluoro-l-dehydrohydrocortisone 21-mesylate, 9ot-fll101'0-S-dBhYdI'OhYdIOCOItiSOHG 2l-mesylate, and 9c:- fluorocortisone 2l-mesy1ate can be converted to their respective 2l-thiocyanate derivatives.

The invention may be variously otherwise embodied within'the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7 v 1. A compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formulae i and wherein R is hydrogen, R' is .fi-hydroxy and together R and R is keto, X is halogen, Y is selected from the group consisting of cyano and thiocyano, and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a-hydroxy.

2. 9a-halo-2l-cyano-M-pregnene 1113,1711 -diol 3,20- dione. i

3..9u-fiuoro 2l-cyano-M-pregnene-l1B,17a-diol 3,20- dionen 4. 9a-halo-2l-cyano-A p'regnadiene 115,170: diol- 3,20-dione.

5; 9m-halo-2l-cyano-A pregnadiene llfl,l'lm diol- 3,20-dione. 6. 9oc-halo-2l-cyano A pregnene 17a ol 3,11,20- trione. Y

7. 9a-halo-2l-thiocyano-A pregnene 115,17u diol- 3,20-dione.

8. 9a-fluoro-2lthiocyano-A -pregnene 11fi,l7a diol- 3,20-dione.

9. A process for preparing the compounds of claim 1, which comprises interacting a compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formulae and wherein R is hydrogen, R is fi-hydroxy and together R and R is keto, R" is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl, X is halogen and Z is selected from the I group consisting of hydrogen and a-hydroxy, with a compound selected from the group consisting of inorganic cyanides and inorganic thiocyanates, and recovering the resultant steroid.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein an alkali metal cyanide is used and a 21-cyano steroid is recovered.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the alkali metal cyanide is potassium cyanide and the reaction is conducted at an elevated temperature.

12. The process of claim 9, wherein an alkali metal thiocyanate is used and a 21-thiocyano steroid is recovered.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the alkali metal thiocyanate is potassium thiocyanate and the reaction is conducted at an elevated temperature.

No references cited. 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STEROIDS OF THE GENERAL FORMULAE 